Random images from Nepal

As our fifth field session to collect data draws to a close, we thought we would leave you with a few random images (mostly from Jiri) of our time here. Thank you again for your interest and we'll be in touch after the remainder of the research team hits south Texas. Until then...

Tilganga Community Eye Center: Charikot, Nepal

On our way back from Jiri to Kathmandu Drs. Suman ji, Sandy ji and Matt ji (Drs. Sarah ji and Janardan ji had to leave a day earlier due to other work-related commitments back in the US) stopped by Tilganga's Community Eye Centre in Charikot. The purpose of these Community Eye Centers is to offer comprehensive eye care services in rural areas of Nepal. Services include comprehensive screening, minor surgery, referral services and various eye health education and awareness programs. Construction of the Charikot Community Eye Center building was completed with the support of the Shikshya Foundation Nepal, an organization that seeks to oversee and facilitate the education of Nepali children in need from primary school through secondary school and higher education. Since the start of the Jiri Eye Study the Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology has now established a permanent Community Eye Center in Jiri.

Eye charts you would not see in the English speaking parts of the world.

Minor procedure room.

 Slit lamp examination area.

A large selection of prescription glasses to choose from.

Prescription lenses are cut/shaped on site to fit various frame configurations.

Participant recruitment in the field

Jiri is a municipality in Dolakha District in the Janakpur Zone of north-eastern Nepal and sits approximately 2,300 meters (7,500 feet) above sea level. Sitting within the Pahad (hill) region, negotiating this undulating terrain can be quite challenging on one's stamina. Not so for our recruitment staff, Sanjita ji and Bhim Bahadur ji! For about one month prior to research clinic activities Sanjita ji and Bhim Bahadur ji venture out into the Jiri region to start their recruitment duties. It is with thanks to their hard work that as at the conclusion of this field trip we have successfully recruited 1,293 individuals to the project! Thank you Sanjita and Bhim!

Here is a collection of photographs of Sanjita and Bhim working within the Jirel community recruiting potential study participants. (All photographs were taken with permission).

Sanjita ji is seated on the right.

Bhim Bahadur ji is seated on the far right and left, respectively.

Sanjita ji (center) explains to a potential female and male participant, respectively, the amount of blood that would be collected. Blood is collected to test lipid levels, blood sugar levels and test DNA loci against clinical phenotypes such as cataract, glaucoma, and intraocular pressure.

Reading glasses for our study participants

As you may recall from a recent entry (Reading glasses donation: Lions Club International), reading glasses for our research participants are being provided, in part, by the Texas Lions Eyeglass Recycling Center (TLERC). This very kind donation is making a difference to the Jirel community in a simple but effective way that most people in the developed world may take for granted.Thank you once again to the Lions Club and the TLERC!

Here we see Dr. Suman ji (the project's ophthalmologist) giving reading glasses (donated by the TLERC) to a male research participant.

Dr. Suman ji seeing if a female participant is willing to try on her new reading glasses (donated by the TLERC).

A female participant sporting her new reading glasses (donated by the TLERC). Nothing but style up here in Jiri! (photo taken with permission)